Page 124 - A Hero of Liége

He had plucked out his revolver, but the aeroplane stood between him and
the airmen, running like sprinters towards the wood. Swerving to the left to

get a clear field of fire, the lieutenant discharged all its chambers one after
another on the chance of a lucky shot. But the fugitives, having made the

most of their start, were out of range. They gained the outer fringe of trees
and plunged in, the lieutenant being then about thirty yards behind them.
He had drawn his sword. His men were strung out at short intervals in his

rear.

There was not much cover at the edge of the wood, and the airmen dashed
on towards the spot where the trees grew more densely, Pariset leading by a
few yards. By the time he reached it, Kenneth heard the lieutenant's horse

pounding the turf almost at his heels. It seemed that in a second or two he
must be ridden down. With instant decision he dived to the right behind a

large tree. The lieutenant, unable to check his horse in time, galloped past,
shouting to his men to catch the spy. Kenneth took a flying shot at him,
missed, and rushed after Pariset, who at the sound of the shot turned and

fired at the Wachtmeister, now only a few yards behind his leader. There
was a howl. Neither of the airmen stayed to see the effect of the shot. They

plunged into the brushwood, which grew more and more densely as they
proceeded, and was more closely set with trees.

"They can't ride through this," Kenneth panted as he overtook Pariset.
"They would be swept from their saddles."

"Yes; we're as good as they on foot; we are safe for a while. Did you hear
the bomb?"

"Rather: it went off all right; the Taube must be blown to atoms."

The pursuing horsemen, on finding themselves checked by the undergrowth
and the trees, flung themselves from their saddles. They lost a few minutes

in tethering their horses, so that when they pushed on on foot, the fugitives
had been enabled to penetrate deeper into the wood.